Meaning and Usage
The word 「年」 (とし) primarily means "year" or "age." It is used to talk about calendar years, ages of people or things, and can also refer to a specific year in time.
Common Contexts
- When talking about someone's age, 「年」 is often combined with the counter 「歳」 (さい) to form expressions like 「二十五歳」 (25 years old).
- It is frequently used in time expressions such as 「今年」 (this year), 「来年」 (next year), and 「去年」 (last year).
Collocations and Patterns
- 「今年」 (ことし): this year
- 「来年」 (らいねん): next year
- 「去年」 (きょねん): last year
- 「年を取る」 (としをとる): to grow older
- 「年齢」 (ねんれい): age (formal)
Register and Nuance
「年」 is a neutral word used in both formal and informal contexts. When specifying age, it is polite to use 「歳」 after the number. The word can also appear in compound words related to age or years.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 「年」 (とし) with 「歳」 (さい). Remember, 「年」 means "year" or "age" in a general sense, while 「歳」 is specifically a counter for age. For example, "25 years old" is 「二十五歳」, not 「二十五年」.